HOw do I manage all the presents my 6 year old will be getting for birthday

mrcow

LittleMissAspie wrote: »

I disagree. The OP has been saying that being wasteful (ie uneconomical) is offensive in her culture. I can understand that - I don't really like getting presents from people because it's usually not an object I want and most of them end up at the charity shop. I find it horribly wasteful, and I find the general wastefulness of modern society distasteful.

Fine -then just say "no presents".

Not: "Give me the money instead" or "Give me some vouchers" or "Here is a gift list - pick something off it".

HappySad

CarolynH wrote: »

I wonder how much food will be wasted by 40 excited 6 year olds not eating more than a bit or two from their disposable party plates or from wrapping paper from the anticipated 30 plus presents.

These seem like muche easier areas to 'REDUCE first'.

Re usable plates that we use for BBQ parties & present usually are in gift bags that are reused. Food is not wasted. We always buy food that we can use ourselves afterwards. We do the same with BBQs. Buy party food for everyone and not buy the weekly shop. Any food left we eat for our meals. We also give away left overs to party members.

If we had a rabbit or dog then they would get the leftovers that would end up in the bin.

HappySad

LittleMissAspie wrote: »

I disagree. The OP has been saying that being wasteful (ie uneconomical) is offensive in her culture. I can understand that - I don't really like getting presents from people because it's usually not an object I want and most of them end up at the charity shop. I find it horribly wasteful, and I find the general wastefulness of modern society distasteful. All the packaging, all the oil and materials used in manufacture, all the fuel used to transport it, everything the planet has given up to enable humans to make this object, all completely wasted. I would rather get nothing than something I don't want.

REDUCE, then re-use and recycle. All the emphasis is on recycling, it should be on reducing.

I agree.

For my son's last party we requested handme downs & 2nd hand presents. Any toys that they child did not want but they thought our son would like. We also said that we were not expecting presents. Some came with out present and some came with handme down presents. Some came with new presents. For my younger's birthday I got a bag of handme down toys. I choose the ones we liked and gave the rest to charity.

My reasons are cultural, my own family traditions and also my own personal beliefs. My family & culture were not green at all; but lived in a way to greatly reduce waste because they could not afford to live otherwise. When I mean live I mean feed the children. Literally. Now in the land of plenty we still keep on with these ways-traditions.

mrcow

HappySad wrote: »

Now in the land of plenty we still keep on with these ways-traditions.

So how does that fit in with your idea of a gift list? Or asking for cash?

You've changed your tune so much, it sounds like we're on a completely different album now?

HappySad

mrcow wrote: »

So how does that fit in with your idea of a gift list? Or asking for cash?

You've changed your tune so much, it sounds like we're on a completely different album now?

The main thing is it makes sense to me. You don't have to understand why or how. Some people understand & some do not.

aliasojo

HappySad wrote: »

If we had a rabbit or dog then they would get the leftovers that would end up in the bin.

:rotfl:You're taking this to extremes now, try sticking to the facts that are actually in play now, rather than adding hypotheticals into the equation.

'Ifs and buts should always be cut' as my Mum used to say. They mean nothing since they haven't played an actual part.....they only relate to another situation which is hypothetical and hasn't happened so carry no weight and are of no use.

Becles

How about asking for charity donations instead? You could set up a bucket with a cardboard lid or a postbox with mini envelopes, or something fun. At the end your son could count up the cash and decide what to buy from Oxfam Unwrapped.

That way you reduce the waste from unwanted presents, and some people somewhere in the world will really benefit from your son's gift.

aliasojo

HappySad wrote: »

The main thing is it makes sense to me. You don't have to understand why or how. Some people understand & some do not.

Think you've just summed the whole thing up in this post really. Only I suspect you dont realise you've just made the argument for the prosecution.

All you need to do now is accept that the vast majority (if not them all) of people you are inviting will not think like you do. If you can accept that and graciously put your own beliefs to one side for this one particular occasion, then it should all go swimmingly.

If you can't and insist on your own thoughts being of more importance than those of your guests, then you will reap what you sow. In your culture, your thoughts may be perceived as good and well intentioned...in our culture, they will be perceived as greedy and ill mannered.

Despite the rights and wrongs, that is really the only fact that you need to consider. It really is as simple as that.

pipkin71

HappySad wrote: »

For my son's last party we requested handme downs & 2nd hand presents. Any toys that they child did not want but they thought our son would like. We also said that we were not expecting presents. Some came with out present and some came with handme down presents. Some came with new presents.

So of the 20 presents your son received last year, how many were new? :rolleyes: It seems to me that you are digging quite a hole OP.

HappySad wrote: »

Last year we had 20 present & I kept them aside and he opened one every few months throughout the year

mrscb

I get annoyed by present lists anyway but requests for a childs party gift takes the biscuit!!!
I keep a present stash and let my child pick what to give XXXXX out of it.
Why cant the OP do as last year and get a few out every few months.
Kids love opening presents whatever it is and it is their gift to decide what happens to it,if some are duplicated fine(one will get broken at some point!!)I would never say to someone XXXXXgot 2 of these can I have the receipt unless it was close friend or family(not some childs mother who I barely know)
If someone asks what your son would like fair enough but just be grateful for whatever is been given and let the child enjoy it.
As for the clothes thing if I was buying for a baby I always get bigger than newborn( but if everyone thought like that the poor baby would have nothing as a newborn;))
That my bit said:o